Mold from apartment floods aggravates woman's health

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Mold from apartment floods aggravates woman's health

DetNews.com - Detroit,MI,*

Bridget Baulch / The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20070821/METRO01/708210318/1006

What's the problem

Hutcherson's apartment has flooded numerous times since moving

into Bethel Tower on Chrysler Drive in Detroit in January. The water

backs up from drains in the hallway, saturating the carpet of

Hutcherson's one-bedroom apartment.

" The water shoots up from the grates in the hallways, " said

Hutcherson, 53. " It looks like geysers. "

Status

According to Hutcherson, flooding has occurred on several days in

April and May, with the worst of the flooding in July, when five

straight days of water backed up into Hutcherson's apartment.

" It (water) came in under the front door and flooded the closets,

the bathroom and the kitchen, " said Hutcherson. " Now there is mold

growing in my closets. "

Hutcherson suffers from congestive pulmonary disease, diabetes and

requires an oxygen tank to help her breath.

" The mold is really aggravating my health conditions, " she said.

Who's responsible

Hutcherson has contacted the building manager, city of Detroit and

the Department of Health in hopes of having the problem fixed and

carpet replaced, but many phone calls and months later, she still is

not satisfied.

" I tried speaking with the building manager, and she just ignored

me, " said Hutcherson. " They finally ended up shampooing the carpet,

but that doesn't do anything; it needs to be replaced. I don't know

what's growing under there now. "

Residents of Bethel Tower experiencing similar problems may file a

complaint with the building manager by calling (313) 833-0175.

Contact us

If you are having difficulty getting a problem in your neighborhood

addressed, contact Help Line at helpline@... or call Bridget

Baulch at (313) 222-2309.